Railway signal torpedo



F.DUTCHER RAILWAY SIGNAL; TORPEDO Oct. 21 192 1. I 1,512,749

Filed Dec. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. BUTCHER RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDC Filed Dec. 4, i920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 21, 1924.

FRANK DUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLES, FENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO CENTRAL RAIL WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

NEW JERSEY.

A CORPORATION OF RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

Application filed December 4, 1920. Serial No. 428,231.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal Torpedoes, of which the follow ing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, constructed to be attached to the head of a railroad rail, for the purpose of giving a signal to the engineer when it is exploded by the wheels of the engine.

Railway torpedoes as heretofore constructed, provided only for a signal by acting as a detonator which sometimes is not heard by the engineer, by reason of the clatter and noise of the engine and train.

The objectof my present invention is to add to the usual detonator a simultaneous brilliant flash, so that there is a detonation and a flash, whereby it the engineershould tail to hear the detonation his attention would be attracted by the brilliant flash.

in carrying out my present invention, I provide a case or container which is hermetically sealed in any suitable manner and carries a detonator and a charge of flashlight powder, the container being provided with spring clips by which it is held on the head of a railroad rail.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved torpedo, unattached to the rail.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, showing the torpedo attached to the head of a railroad rail.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a somewhat differently formed case containing my present invention.

Fig. 4c is a detached perspective view of my improved detonator and flash-light charge.

,Fig. 5 is a detached the spring clip.

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the torpedo carrier to which the spring clip is attached,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of another form of container and carrier, the container beperspective view of 'ing broken away to show a part of the combined detonator and fiash-light charge.

struck by th wheels of a locomotive.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the carrier and spring clip, shown in Figs. .8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of another form of case and rail-engaging clip.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank from which the torpedo container of Figs. 3 and 7 is constructed.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is the container, 2 the container carrier and 3 the spring clip. The combined detonatorand flash-light charge is placed in this container, and the container is composed of a fibrous case or envelope which has been subjected to a suitable waterproof treatment, whereby it is hermetically sealed. The detonator charge l in the form shown, has a suitable cavity or opening 5, in which the flash-light charge or powder is placed. This application respect to the form or tablet shown in Fig. i, is a continuation of the allowed application of Frank Dutcher, Serial No, 258,713 filed October 18th 1918, in which claims for the explosivetablet were allowed. The carrier 2 has suitable lips 7, at its ends whichare turned around the container 1, as shown, whereby the container is attached to the carrier 2. Slots 8 are formed in the carrier 2, which receive the crimps 9 of the spring 3. These crimps 9 are formed in the top or crown 3 of the spring which is located at the top or head of the rail 10. The spring clip 3 is provided with downwardly eX- 1 tending converging legs having at their lower ends the inwardly and upwardly curved ends 12, which grip the under sides of the head of the rail. When the spring clip is applied to the rail, it conforms ina measure to the average rail head, but. due to its resilience and shape is adapted to fit different sizes of rails, with the ends 12 of the clips at the under side of the head of the rail, to prevent the torpedo from being pushed from the rail when This construction serves to hold the signal firmly in place on the rail, even in the presence of excessive vibration of the rail caused by the advancing train. Due to the crimps 9 of the spring, which are made of resilient or tempered metal, one or both of the crimps are broken when struck by the wheels of the locomotive, so that the spring separates and all parts of the torpedo fall from the track after it has been exploded. The crimps 9 enter the slots 8 of the carrier, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The carrier 2 andthe crown of the spring are provided with rivet-openings 3 through which the rivet 4 passes, thus uniting the carrier and the spring.

The detonator and flash-light charge, I preferably make of tablet or cake form, as shown'in Fig. 4, and the shape of the tablet will be changed somewhat to correspond to the shape of the container in which it is placed. v My present invention is adapted to different shapes of containers. In Figs. 3, '7 and 12, the container is substantially square in plan View and in Figs. 8 and 9, it is elongated, as shown, and the carrier 2 is made 'of a form to correspond to the form of the container;

In Fig, 11 the container 1 and carrier 2 are attached to the head of the rail by a suitable lead strip or strap 2.

While in Fig. 12 I have shown a plan view of a blank from which the torpedo of Figs. 3 and 7 is made, the particular construction of the container forms no part of my present invention and need not be further described.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that each container is provided with a carrier 2. This carrier is formed of suitable thin metal suitable to the container to which it is applied;

The detonating charge 4;, in each case, is composed of a mixture which includes sulphur and potassium chlorate and agritt-y substance to cause it to'ignite andexplode whenhitby the wheel of the locomotive; The flashlight charge or powder 6 is such as is used by photographers and is essentially magnesium to which I preferably add a suitable quantity of chlorate of potassium.

While I have shown my combined detonator and flash-light charge in the form of a tablet or cake, yet'I do not limit myself to that particular form of charge, as they both may bein powder form.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that when the torpedo exploded by the wheel of a locomotive, there is simultaneously a detonation, and a brilliant flash light, and an odor from the burnt sulphun This sulphurous odor causes a sharp sensa tion as a taste or smell, and is penetrating and painful to the person inhaling or smelling-it, and corresponds with the'dictionary mg a container, means for fastening the same to the head of a rail, and'a detonator and flash-light powder within the container.

2. A railway signaling appliance, con sisting of a carrier, a' spring clip compris ing a strip of resilient metal secured to the carrier and presenting an arch to rest on the top of the rail and downwardly extending converging legs having inwardly and upwardly curved ends for gripping the sides'of the rail head, a container secured to the carrier and containing a detonator and a flash-light powder.

3. A railway signaling appliance, con sisting of the combination with a container and means for fastening the same to a rail head, of a'detonator and a flash-light powder and inflammable powder producing a" pungent odor on ignition,

at. A rallwa si nalin -a lian'c'e consisting of a' carrier having parallel s'paced slots, spring clips COIlSiSClUg of a'strip of resilient metal secured to the carrier and having crimps' registering with and protruding slightly through "the slots, a'waterproof fibrous container secured in the carrier by crimped edges'of the latter; and a detona the purpose described.

6. An improved detonating signal torpedo explosive compound, com prising an explosive tablet explodedby concussion, the tablet provided with a pocket, and a; flash-light composition within the pocket and ignited by and substantially with the explosion of the tablet, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix'my' signature.

FRANK DUTCHER."

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